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T. ALLSOP AND W. W. snssow.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18. I916.

Patented July 1, 1919,

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T. ALLSOP AND W. W. 'SIBSON.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLSCATION FILED SEPT. 1a. 1916.

Patented July 1, 1919.

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DRYING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 18, 1916.

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DRYING MACHINE.

APPL!CATION FILED SEPT. 18. 1916.

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THOMAS ALLSOP AND WALTER W. SIBSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS TO PHILADELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A'GORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1,1919.

Application filed September 18, 1916. Serial No. 120,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Teena-S- Atnsorand Warren IV. SInsoN, of Philadelphia; inx-the;. ientlylocated. Steam or any other heating county of Philadelphia and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Machines, whereof thefollowing 1s a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates todrying machines, 1

through the drying compartment of which the material to be dried is carried by a suitable conveyor or conveyors, a parallel compartment in which the heating means are located and fans for creating a CilCllltttlOIl of the heating medium through the said compartments.

Our invention also relates to a conveyor comprising elements which may be relatively adjusted so as to maintain the material to be dried under tension while passing through the machine, iirga manner usually known as tentering.

Our invention further relates to a conveyor which is so located that the material carried thereby serves as a deflector whereby the currents of the heating medium are divided while being circulated through the drying compartment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a partial side elevation of a drying machine conveniently illustrating our invention.

Fig. II, is an end elevation of the same as viewed from the right hand end of Fig. I.

Fig. III, is a cross sectional view through the machine.

Fig. IV, is a longitudinal sectional view through the same, the plane of the section being indicated by arrows IV-IV in Fig. III. Figs. V, VI, VII and VIII, are detail views illustrating a conveyer with adjustable tentering chains.

The machine constructed according to our invention may be of any length having the cross section clearly shown in Fig. III. The drying medium is preferably circulated in a lateral direction, so that the inclosure comprehensively designated by the numeral 1, is divided longitudinally by a partition 2, into two compartments 3, and 4n, the larger of which constitutes the drying chamber and the smaller, the heating chamber within which the heating coils 5, may be conven- A portion of the inclosure is covered 11;

peaked roof having inclined walls 6, and 7, which are jointed at the top by a comparatively narrow horizontal portion 8. This peaked roof, the sides and top of the structure are inclosed preferably by hollow sheet metal panels 9, comprising interposed layers of a suitable thermo-insulating material.

The longitudinal partition 2, is extended upwardly so as to further efi'ect a subdivision of the portion of the structure in closed by the peaked roof and'is provided with a series of openings 10, within which revolve a like number of fans 11, by which the drying medium is circulated between the heating-and drying chambers in'the general direction of the arrows shown in Fig. III. The lower end of the partition 2, terminates at a point 12, well above the floor of the inclosure to afford a return communication between the said compartments.

rotated inunison by pulleys 17, fast upon the ends of the shafts 13.

The drying compartment 3, is traversed by a double system of endless conveyers which may be used either together or separately. The upper of these systems is adapted to carry flat fabrics of varying lengths such as cloth, blankets, etc., being supported under tension by traveling adjustable tentering chains, while the lower system may be employed for loose materials, such as cotton or wool fiber, rags, hosiery, etc.

Referring first to the upper system, two parallel chainways 20, and 21, extend longitudinally through compartment 3, and are fixedly supported by short uprights 22, which are attached at the top to the transverse angle beams 23, of the structure, and at the bottom by the lateral braces 24, in

such a; manner as to afford an interspace 25, between the said uprights and the fan partition 2. Guided within the chainways 20, and 21, is an endless chain '26, which is driven :by sprockets 27, mounted upon the countershaft 28 (see Fig. II). Coiiperating with chain .26, is a similar chain 29, which finds its guidance in chainways 30, and 31, (see Fig. V), mounted upon adjustable cross heads which are built up of structural 'iron and comprise the paired upper and lower slide pieces 3232, and 3333, which are respectively united by upright angle irons 34, as best shown in Fig. IV. The

upper slide pieces 32-32. are guided by engagement with the transverse angle beams 23, already referred to while'the lower slides 33-33, are guided upon lateral runways 35, also of angle irons which terminate at a point 36,, within the drying com artment for a reason which will be later escri hed.

In order to afford the necessary rigidity,

the slide pieces 32, and 33, are cross braced with the upright pieces 34, as shown at 37, in Fig.- III.

The cross heads further comprisebossed plates 38, into which are threaded the horizontal adjusting screws 39,- which protrude through the side wall of the inclosure and are rotatably supported externally in journal boxes 40. Mounted upon the outer ends of the adjusting screws are gear wheels upon a shaft 43, extending longitudinally ofthe machine and supported for rotation in fixed brackets 4.4. This shaft is common to all of 'the adjusting devices for the cross heads so that they may be simultaneously operated by means of the hand Wheel 45, shown in Figs. I, II, and III.

In order to allow for the shifting of the chain 29, its driving sprockets 4 6, are slidably mounted upon the shaft, an elongated spline 47, (Fig. II) serving both as a guide and a positive driving connection. By this construction the supporting chain 29, may

Referring more particularly to Figs. V to VIII, inclusive, we have illustrated a convenient meansby which the goods may be attached to the supporting chains, in the form of pins 50, which are grouped in series upon plates'51, secured by means of'screws '52, to lateral extensions 53, integrally formed with the chain links 55. These-pins are set inclined in a direction opposite to the pull tions may be obtained.

41 i which are actuated by worms 42, mounted rsoepae of the fabric, thereby affording a positive engagement and obviating the tendency of slippage.

It is to be noted, however, that other engaging devices, such as clamps or clips, may be employed instead of the pins, those substitutions depending, of course, upon the character of the fabric or material to be dried and we, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise form herein illustrated' The lower carrier system comprises an endless :conveyer 60, of Wire screening or the like, which may be attached to transverse supporting rods 61, secured to sprocket chains 62,-and 63, running upon fixed guides 35, and 66. These'chains are driven by sprockets 67, and 68, mounted upon a counter shaft 69, which is in turn eared to the shaft 28, of the upper system liymeans-ofa sprocket chain transmission indicated at 70, in. Figs. I, and II. Power is transmitted to the shaft 69, through a worm wheel 71, driven by a worm 72 upon the lower end of a vertlcal shaft 73, which is in turn connected through a similar gear (not shown), with a main driving shaft 75, having the usual cone pulleys 76, by which the desired speed varia- The upper and lower conveying systems may of course be employed separately, but it has been found econiomical in practice to use them simultaneou y. In the latter instance, it will be seen by reference to Fig. I, that the goods carried by the upper conveying system becomes functional in distributing the air currents throughout the entire heating compartment, 2'. e., ,th air currents are substantially deflected in two streams, one passing over the-top of the said fabric, thereby effecting a distribution in the portion of the drying chamber most remote from'the heating chamber, while the other stream is by-passed through the space 25, already alluded to and traverses a somewhat shortercircuit in. passing to the opening below the fan partition. In either case, the articles supported by the lower conveyer will be thoroughly subjected to the deflected drying air. currents.

It may undercertain conditions be further advantageous tooperate the two conveyingiisystems at different speeds. For ex- .a-mpjl'e, the goods carried upon the lower sys ther functional in assisting the support of anywgoods hanging from the tentering chains, (the runways 35, having been sufficiently shortened to permit this), so as to relieve the said chains of considerable of the supporting strains. R In this instance, it

would of course be essential to operate both conveying systems at a synchronous speed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: I LA drying machineincluding in combination, a drying compartment, paired chainways extending longitudinally of said compalr of chainways, each chain having laterally projecting extensions formed integral with. the chain links, and pins carried by the outer ends of said extenslons.

2. A drying machine including in combination, a drying compartment, paired chainways extending longitudinally of said com partment, means for supporting one of said chainways in fixed position in said compartment, means for supporting the other chainway whereby it may be ad uSted toward and from the first-named chainway, means for bodily shifting the adjustable chainway, endless chains running in each pair of chainways, each chain having laterally projecting extensions formed integral with the chain links, plates detachably secured to said extensions, and pins mounted on said plates and inclining in a direction opposite to the pull of the fabric supported thereby.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto signed our names at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this twelfth day of September, 1916.

THOMAS ALLSOP.

WALTER W. SIBSON.

Witnesses:

JAMEs H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON. 

